By Casey Jarmes | The News-Review
SOUTH ENGLISH – During the Dec. 9 meeting of the South English City Council, Mayor Ed Shafranek stated that they had found all of the water leaks in town. He explained that the last major leak had come from a broken outside line, which flowed into a resident’s basement through a wall and into a basement drain. Shafranek stated that the residents hadn’t noticed this, because they never go into their basement, and only realized the leak was happening after they hired someone to do electrical work in the basement. Shafranek stated that the service line had been replaced, the leak had been plugged, and that the city’s water usage was back to normal. Councilman Cameron Miller stated that the water usage numbers were the best they’d been in a long time.
City Clerk Stephanie Lown stated that the city had lost 20% of its revenue on water in the last three years, including $10,000 in the last year alone. Miller stated that they had spent an extra $20,000 because of the leak. Shafranek stated that they would need to sit down, possibly at a special meeting, to look over the city’s expenses, revenue, and maintenance costs. He stated that he believed they would have to raise water rates. Shafranek stated that the last time they changed the water rate was six years ago, where they lowered the rate.
Councilwoman Hope Frazier asked if, going forward, they could be allowed to check the basements of people who don’t check their basements. Shafranek stated that they legally cannot be denied access to service lines. He stated that most people let him in to check when he knocks. Shafranek stated that they had sent out letters informing people of the water leak, which they didn’t need to do unless someone wasn’t around, because they can just knock on the door and look around. He stated that city employee Steven Clarahan had less time to look for water leaks because of a new job, and that, if he can’t do it, they need to hire someone part time who can. Frazier asked if the council could check houses for leaks; Shafranek stated it had to be a city employee. Lown stated that there were a few water meters that still weren’t reading. The council discussed getting a tool to check water meters.
Chandra Harper from the library board stated that the board would vote on hiring a new library director at their next meeting. Hope Frazier stated that she had been very impressed with interim director Destiny Harper. Chandra Harper stated that, the next two Saturdays, Destiny would be hosting Christmas crafts and cocoa after story-time. She stated that Destiny was considering doing this every Saturday, if it went well.
Lown mentioned that Andi Albert, who had decided against running for reelection but received the most write-in votes, had officially declined to stay on the council. Local man Roger Murphy, who received the second most write-in votes, has agreed to take her seat.
